Booking your holiday direct with the owners is always the best way to make sure you get the cheapest deal and don’t pay over the odds. Most of our holiday guests book direct, but you may have found us on other websites such Trip Advisor or Air BnB.

Did you realise that by booking through these large OTAs, (Online Travel Agents), you could inadvertently be paying a lot more for your holiday?

7 Good reasons to book direct

Today 6th February 2019 is #BookDirect day – an international campaign to encourage guests to book directly with the owners of hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and glamping sites, because it is better for everyone!

We only have a relatively small marketing budget so many small businesses like ourselves have to advertise with the larger national and international accommodation websites to get our message out there.

1. The Best Price

It’s Simples! Our own website lists the best price for our log cabins and glamping pods – there is NO extra Booking Commission, NO Booking Fee and NO Service Fee Always book direct! Only this week a guest booked through one of the major OTAs and has unnecessarily paid 20% more for their holiday – they could have spent their money on a night out at our local pub!

If you know the name of the accommodation, all it takes is a quick google search to find the website!!

2. Online Booking

Booking direct with us online only takes a few simple steps. It’s quick and easy and there are flexible payment options so you can pay by card or bank transfer.

3. Book with confidence

Your booking is immediately secured and you’ll get e-mail confirmation. We handle all of our booking details securely and will never pass your details on to third parties.

4. Cut the costs

As well as adding cost, booking with an Online Travel Agent adds an extra layer of complexity to your booking. Cutting out the middleman keeps everything simple and avoids any confusion. It also cuts down on the charges we have to pay so we can keep our prices competitive.

5. The little extras that make the difference

Our website is the only place you can find the full selection of offers, discounts, or extras to enhance your stay. You can book stabling for your horse, or treat yourself and book a log-fired hot tub, a pizza oven evening, or a firepit experience.

6. Book with confidence

We have the best local knowledge of our special Peak District and can help you make the most of your stay in the Derbyshire hills. We can help you decide which log cabin best suits your needs, what specialist equipment is available, and organise a #LoveLocal delivery of delicious locally sourced groceries for when you arrive.

We want our guests to enjoy their stay and are happy to share the best dog-friendly places to visit, the most scenic horse routes, the best places to eat and the quirkiest local traditions such as Ashbourne Shrovetide. Communication is the key and something that you definitely don’t get when you book elsewhere!

7. No hidden charges

By booking direct you know exactly what is included, there are no hidden extras or nasty unexpected charges.

How Can You Help Spread the #BookDirect Word?

Always book direct and encourage everyone you know to do the same

When you get a great deal booking directly, TELL everyone about it

Share our message using the #BookDirect hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms

Booking Direct with Hoe Grange Holidays

The good news is that most of our guests already book direct and therefore get the best deal! #BookDirect with us rather than through a third party and you can spend the money you save on enjoying yourself on your holiday!

We hope you find our online booking process easy, however you can email us at info@hoegrangeholidays.co.uk or if you prefer to chat in person just call us on 01629 540262.

Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football is a quirky tradition – basically a manic game of football played through the streets of Ashbourne on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, which goes on all afternoon and evening from turning up the painted leather ball at 2 pm until well after dark.

Shrovetide football in Ashbourne was first recorded as long ago as 1682, and hasn’t changed much over the centuries, except that it is now watched by hoards of people from all over the UK, not just the locals. Two teams, Up’ards, born North of the River Henmore, and Down’ards born South, battle to score by striking the ball 3 times against the old mill wheel goals, which are 3 miles apart at Clifton and Sturston Mill. The large hand sewn leather ball can be kicked, carried or thrown, but generally passes along in a “hug” invisible to the spectator.

On our action packed video you catch a couple of glimpses of the ball in play and later you’ll see where the main hug is by the cloud of escaping steam rising from the sweaty bodies! So far this year, one goal has been scored by the Up’ards at Sturston at 9.10pm by David Spencer.

Snow is now falling, but the Shrovetide footballers will be undeterred by the wintry weather and there will be more action this afternoon – family fun – we recommend Ashbourne Shrovetide as an experience not to be missed, but don’t get too near the ball!

This fantastic video gives a little of the flavour of Ashbourne’s Royal Shrovetide football game played Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday through the streets of our town. Note the pre-match training all happens in the pub!

Few rules, hundreds of players, Up’ards against Down’ards (depends which side of the river you are born), and goals 3 miles apart. The “hug” is a tough place to be, not for the fainthearted!